Seed Technology

Enza Zaden, Pairwise on Mission to Feed the World Vegetables

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 18:19:05 GMT

Enza Zaden, a Netherlands-based vegetable breeding company that develops and supplies vegetable seeds for some 30 crops to growers worldwide, has entered a strategic agreement to license Pairwise’s Fulcrum Platform, a suite of precision plant breeding tools.

“At Enza Zaden, our mission is to grant people everywhere access to healthy vegetables by developing high-quality varieties and seeds,” says Jaap Mazereeuw, CEO of Enza Zaden. “This collaboration reflects our commitment to breakthrough plant science and responsible innovation to benefit growers, consumers and the environment. Pairwise’s Fulcrum Platform equips us with advanced tools for research, strengthening our ongoing focus on sustainability and creating value for our customers.”

Co-founded by the inventors of CRISPR, Pairwise’s Fulcrum Platform aims to accelerate the development of climate-resilient, nutritious and sustainable crops. By integrating advanced gene-editing tools with its intellectual property portfolio, Pairwise says the platform enables accelerated agricultural innovation worldwide.

“Enza Zaden has a long tradition of developing innovative vegetable varieties. We’re proud to support them in accelerating the natural potential of crops with cutting-edge tools,” says Tom Adams, CEO of Pairwise. “Gene editing is a precise, modern breeding method that complements traditional approaches, enabling breeders to achieve results faster while addressing key challenges like sustainability and disease resistance. Gene editing represents a vital tool for advancing resilient, climate-smart crops that align with sustainable agriculture goals.”

To learn more about the partnership, The Packer connected with Xana Verweij, global biotech director for Enza Zaden.

What are the most pressing challenges vegetable growers face today that gene editing can solve, and how will Enza Zaden and Pairwise joining forces help to expedite these solutions?

Verweij: The world’s population is growing rapidly, and climate change is intensifying the challenges faced by vegetable growers. At Enza Zaden, we contribute to the global availability of healthy food and a sustainable future by developing vegetable varieties that, for example, are resistant to diseases and better able to withstand extreme weather conditions.

The agreement with Pairwise is focused on research and innovation in plant science, supporting Enza Zaden’s mission to breed vegetables that help feed the world. Gene-editing technology will be used to enhance our research programs. The goal is to accelerate the development of improved vegetable varieties that meet the evolving needs of growers, retailers, and consumers.

Are there certain types of vegetables on which Enza Zaden will be focused using the Pairwise platform breeding tools?

The GE technology and IP licensed from Pairwise will be used to enhance Enza Zaden’s research programs. The goal is to accelerate the development of vegetable varieties that meet the evolving needs of growers, retailers and consumers. At this moment all use is focused on research; any future commercial use will be considered in line with regulatory and market developments and Enza Zaden’s strategy.

What are some of Enza Zaden’s past vegetable seed innovation success stories, and what impact have they had on the fresh produce industry?

Enza Zaden has developed tomato seeds with resistance to Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV), a major global threat to tomato production. These resistant varieties help growers maintain yields and fruit quality, reduce losses and ensure a reliable supply for retailers and consumers.

Each year, Enza Zaden introduces approximately 100 new varieties designed to help growers worldwide produce healthy, diverse and sustainable food. Do you expect the partnership with Pairwise will eventually result in the commercial launch of new vegetable seeds?

The agreement is focused on research use at this moment; there are no genome-edited varieties being introduced to the market as part of this agreement. Enza Zaden’s commitment to non-GMO commercial breeding remains unchanged. Possible commercial use will be communicated when relevant.

Research in Ag-Tech Top-Of-Mind in Farm Bill Hearing

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 20:03:24 GMT

The Senate Ag Committee met on Tuesday to hear testimony surrounding the need for ag research funding in the coming farm bill. According to Katy Rainey, associate professor at Purdue University who gave testimony, the hearing showed “signs of hope” for ag research.

Representing the American Seed Trade Association , Rainey underscored farm bill ag research and technology funding needs:
• Public-private partnerships
• Better program support in the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS)
• Regulatory space that allows technology to come to market.

“There is a misconception that the private sector has the basic and applied research needs for row crops,” Rainey said in her testimony. “We rely on the support of farm bill funding and programs to ensure continued U.S. leadership as the provider of the best seed to the world.”

Outside of sharing her own message, Rainey heard four other testimonials as well as questions from senators. While the on-air discussion proved informative, Rainey says she was most intrigued by the conversations happening off-air.

“Senators are concerned with farmers’ bottom line, but they’re also concerned about global events,” Rainey says. “My takeaway from the senators is that there’s actually a hopeful outlook for global food security because there is so much technology. If we can support the research to get that technology to the field or to the plate that could dispel concerns across the board.”

Rainey is confident research funding will come through in the farm bill to deliver that technology.

View Across the Table

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) was also in attendance of the hearing. In Ernst’s view, there are two highlights from the hearing that deserve a spotlight on Capitol Hill.

1. Cybersecurity in Ag

“We know that our adversaries are targeting our farmers [through cyberattacks] and that does affect our nation’s food chain,” said Ernst in the hearing. “What we want to see is additional work in university ag systems through research, education and outreach activities.”

Chavonda Jacobs-Young, undersecretary for research, education and economics at USDA, said the agency is working to deliver on that additional work.

“We first need to raise the awareness for needs in cybersecurity,” she says. “We also need to train — and retain — the generation of professionals who can help us in this space. That involves high-performance computing, AI and cybersecurity.”

Jacobs-Young and Ernst plan to meet and establish a partnership, along with other groups recommended by Jacobs-Young, to make a gameplan for cyber-awareness in rural America.

2. Carbon Credit Opportunities

In the research corridor, Ernst feels there are carbon questions that still need answers.

“I hear about this all the time from Iowa farmers — they want to participate in carbon markets and create healthy soils,” Ernst says. “Getting the right type of information and translating that so producers can measure carbon on their farms and in their production activities is the bigger issue.”

Ernst and Young both agree the outreach chord needs to be reconnected to rural America, but Jacobs-Young isn’t sure what tactic will flip the ignition switch.

“It’s critically important to talk to producers about what they need and how that can be delivered in a way that they will be receptive to,” said Young in the hearing. “Adoption is part of the issue we have. We can develop wonderful technologies, innovations and tools, but we struggle with producers being receptive.”

For her part, Ernst says she’ll work to allocate farm bill funding toward such programs and communicate with Young on ways to relay the program messages to farmers.

Producers with carbon questions can also seek answers in Farm Journal’s Carbon Innovation Center .

More on farm bill 2023:

Rep. G.T. Thompson Lists His 3 Farm Bill Objectives
Opinion: The Value of Partnerships Between the Agriculture and Energy Industries

Syngenta acquires Brazilian seed company

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 17:52:16 GMT

Syngenta Vegetable Seeds has recently acquired Feltrin Sementes, a Brazilian vegetable seed company that serves smallholder growers and home gardeners in 40-plus countries, according to a news release.

With the growing global vegetable seeds market, Syngenta says the addition of Feltrin Sementes expands its portfolio and supports its goal to serve growers of every type around the world.

“We’re thrilled to welcome the Feltrin Sementes team to our growing vegetable seeds business,” Matthew Johnston, Syngenta’s global head of vegetable seeds and flowers, said in the release. “Their diverse customer base and special connection to growers across Latin America makes them a natural fit with our business focus on placing growers at the heart of everything we do. We look forward to helping Feltrin Sementes continue bringing innovation and value to growers.”

Related news: Seed breeder Enza Zaden touts research approach and global accomplishments

The Feltrin Sementes brand will remain active, maintaining a brand identity that is familiar and respected by growers, according to the release. Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil, Feltrin Sementes serves growers with a portfolio spanning 50-plus crop segments and 500-plus varieties, such as pepper, lettuce, coriander and okra.

“Combining the people and portfolios of Syngenta and Feltrin Sementes is a tremendous opportunity,” Feltrin Sementes CEO Edimilson Luiz Bagattini said in the release. “We’re excited to join Syngenta Vegetable Seeds and offer an expanded portfolio and expertise to our customers from one of the world’s leading agricultural innovation and technology companies.”

One of the first companies to breed vegetable seed varieties, Syngenta’s history in vegetable seeds dates back more than 150 years, according to the release. Today, Syngenta Vegetable Seeds operates in more than 50 countries and delivers vegetable seeds to growers in 124 countries, offering nearly 2,500 commercial varieties across 30 crops, the release said.

Bayer invests in vertical farming with focus on seeds

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:43:02 GMT

Vertical farming, the bastion of tech start-ups, has attracted the attention of global company Bayer AG , with plans to develop vegetable varieties suited to that indoor farming model.

Leaps by Bayer, the Bayer AG “impact investment arm,” and Temasek, an investment company headquartered in Singapore, have formed Unfold to target innovation of vegetable varieties designed for vertical farms. according to a news release.

Led by CEO John Purcell, Unfold will be a U.S. company in the Davis, Calif., area. The company will have commercial research and development operations in California and Singapore.

Unfold raised $30 million in the initial funding round and entered into an agreement for certain rights to germplasm from Bayer’s vegetable portfolio, according to the release.

Purcell said Unfold will focus on investment in germplasm and research on crop growth models best suited for vertical farming.

“As a company fully focused on the vertical farming industry, Unfold will combine leading seed genetics with the best ag tech experts in order to dramatically advance productivity, flavor and other consumer preferences,” Purcell said in the release.

Innovation that offers sustainable solutions for agriculture is one of the 10 areas of engagement and investment that Leaps by Bayer is focused on, Jürgen Eckhardt, head of Leaps by Bayer, said in the release.

Vertical farms can reduce dependency on synthetic chemistry and and other crop inputs, optimize water use and allow production in challenging environments with limited arable land. Production cycles are also shorter, according to the release.

Investments in vertical farms have increased significantly.
“The global food challenges we increasingly face require us to rethink traditional farming practices,” John Vaske, head of agribusiness at Temasek, said in the release.

Bayer, AI company start greenhouse vegetable project

The Packer’s coverage of produce research

More than Hangry: What’s Really at Stake in Global Food Insecurity?

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 01:55:33 GMT

Do you remember what a trip to the grocery store was like at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, or thereafter?

Store shelves sat void of product as packers and shippers were unable to keep up with consumer demand. Trade slowed to a pace that led to a bottleneck of ships and trucks at ports and warehouses respectively.

D.C. made note of these supply chain downfalls and tried to pivot with funding, pop-up ports and weakened transportation regulations. While some of those supply chain links have been soldered in the past year, Russia’s war against Ukraine has added new pressure to global food security.

But the pressure doesn’t stop short of the supply chain, according to many government officials.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), someone known to say, “food security is national security,” shared a conversation with Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen, along with a panel of policy, science and agricultural experts in Ames, Iowa, on Thursday to break down what’s really at stake in rising global food security.

Food Fuels Peace

The United Nations estimates that world hunger increased 1.5 percent in 2020 to roughly 800 million people.

With rising world hunger numbers, Ernst points to the war in Ukraine, extreme weather and the COVID-19 pandemic as fuel on the food insecurity fire. Ernst, along with Larry Sailer, an Iowa farmer and a farmer ambassador with Farm Journal Foundation, say these challenges pose an increasing threat to national security.

“Agriculture is the first building block of any economy, so maintaining a vibrant and innovative farming sector is absolutely critical to lift people out of poverty, build strong economies and eliminate hunger,” said Sailer. “A hungry person is not a peaceful person. National security for all countries depends on less hunger.”

Minimizing Global Hunger

The answer, according to Katie Lee, vice president of government affairs at Farm Journal Foundation, is rooted in ag research and development.

“The challenges we are seeing today, and the resulting impact on food prices and global hunger, should be a wakeup call that we need to invest more in agricultural research and development,” said Lee.

Following a tour of Iowa State University’s Seed Science Center , the largest seed lab in the world, Lee shared that ag innovation, like Iowa State’s, will be “vital” as populations continue to grow and natural resources are strained.

Up the Ante

Global hunger has been addressed for decades by groups like United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme. However, attention has been diverted from science, especially in the public sector, according to Wendy Wintersteen, Iowa State University president.

“Agricultural research and innovation like that happening at Iowa State University impacts nearly every major societal challenge, but this area of science has been massively underfunded for decades,” said Wintersteen. “Increasing our national investment in agricultural research is vital to support the public good and ensure our country’s leadership and competitiveness.”

While private sector research has significantly impacted yields for commodity groups like corn and soybeans, the public sector can support early research to “pave the way for long-term innovations,” according to Farm Journal Foundation’s press release of the event.

“The innovative agricultural research happening at Iowa State University is vital to finding the necessary solutions to combat global hunger,” said Ernst. “Ultimately food security is national security.”

More on trade:

Russia Sparks New Trouble in Grain and Oil Exports
John Phipps: Are Tariffs Part Of The Problem With Inflation?
3 Supply Chain Trends to Look Out for in 2023, According To AEM